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This study reports the processing and separation of gum rosin from pine gum (Pinusmerkusii). The research method was carried out with several stages, namely the process of tapping pine gum, the process of separation and purification. After the refining process, the gum rosin and turpentine oil are separated using a simple distillation technique. The results of gum rosin separation obtained from the distillation process were 86.67 with a soft point of 78.8°C, a vaporizing component of 0.976%, an acid number of 175.3125 and a saponification number of 178.81875. In addition to knowing the components of the gum rosin samples obtained, the identification of compounds was carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of FTIR identification showed the presence of sp 2 C-H,-OH, sp 3 C-H, C=O,-CH 2 and - CH 3 groups, while GC-MS identification showed the presence components of Caryophyllene, Pimaric acid, Dehydroabietic acid, Abieticacid, and á-Pinene. The identification results indicate that the residue from the simple distillation is gum rosin.

Stingless bees have become popular in the last six years because of their promising products such as honey, bee pollen, and propolis. A study on the stingless bees had been conducted in 2019 with the aim to see the ecological aspect dealing with the potency of stingless beekeeping (Meliponiculture) to be held within Universitas Andalas Campus Complex (UACC). A total of ten colonies from ten different stingless bee species were recorded from several sites in UACC and the condition of each colony was concisely observed. Plant species that presumably the potential food source for stingless bees were identified from selected sites at Herbarium, Arboretum, and Storage Spot. The uniqueness of every stingless bee colony and its potency in stingless beekeeping was discussed in this paper. A total of 66 plant species were recorded with note as possible sources for pollen, nectar or resin for stingless bee colonies.

Research on stingless bee at several Meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) sites in West Sumatra, including at Universitas Andalas Campus Complex, had been conducted from April to December 2019 by using direct survey and direct collection methods on stingless bee worker at their colony entrances. A total of 18 stingless bee species that belong to five genera were collected. Tetragonula was the genus with the highest in species number (8), followed by Homotrigona (5) and Lepidoptrigona (3). Meanwhile, Heterotrigona and Geniotrigona were only represented by a single species each despite their popularity among West Sumatra beekeepers. Universitas Andalas Campus Complex harbours the highest species number of stingless bee (10), followed by stingless beekeeping site in Lubuk Minturun (7). Only 2-4 stingless bee species bred elsewhere stingless beekeeping sites. We presume that the difference of species number recorded in various stingless beekeeping sites indicated the complexity of this bee species within the variety of habitats.

Pometia pinnata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) is a native Indonesian forest plant increasingly used in urban landscaping. It produces both edible fruits and valuable timber. As with other tree species, enhancing its genetic quality is essential to maximize the utilization of this promising species. However, the information on genetic and genomic data is still lacking, including the analysis of the genetic relationship of this species. This study aims to generate the chloroplast genome of P. pinnata , identify the most suitable DNA marker, and evaluate the relationship within the Sapindaceae family using long-read sequence data generated by MinION Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). The study involved several steps: DNA extraction, DNA quality and quantity tests, DNA sequencing, assembly of the chloroplast genome, and reconstruction of a phylogenetic tree using three markers, i.e., rbcL, matK , and rbcL+matK combinations. The DNA sequencing yielded 449,068 reads, with 2,856 reads after mapping, an N50 read length of 4,188 bp, a total base of 1,135,927 Mb, and a chloroplast genome of 160,372 bp. These results indicated that the DNA isolated from P. pinnata is good quality. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the combination of rbcL and matK markers effectively differentiates groups within the Sapindaceae family, revealing P. pinnata as closely related to Nephelium lappaceum, Nephelium mutabile, Sapindus mukorossi, Dimocarpus longan, Bligia sapida, Litchi chinensis, Acer yangbiense , and Lepisanthes alata . This study enriches genetic studies on P. pinnata , establishing a foundation for species identification based on the rbcL and matK marker and supporting future tree improvement programs.

Stingless bees play important role in many aspects of human livelihood since people have now recognized the benefit of pollen, honey, and cerumen of stingless bees. From survey conducted across the beekeepers in West Sumatra Province, a total of 13 stingless bee species were identified from the West Sumatran beekeeping activities. The survey also aimed to assess the current condition of stingless beekeeping in this province. Heterotrigona itama was recorded as the most popular species for beekeeping, followed by Geniotrigona thoracica and Tetragonula laeviceps , while several Tetragonula members were the least favoured by the beekeepers, i.e. T. minangkabau, T. fuscobaelata and T. testaceitarsis . The number of colonies, experience in practicing beekeeping, marketing, beekeeper networking and other related aspects were also discussed in this paper.

Natural cavities in polyculture plantations are important for the conservation of honeybees. This study was aimed to determine the diversity, nest sizes, and fluctuations in the use of sites for nesting by Apis cerana Fabr. in polyculture plantations in two altitudes in West Sumatra. A census method was used to obtain the data variables in 10 plantations (five locations for each altitute). Polyculture plantations used as the study sites were dominated by coconut in lowland areas and coffee in highland areas. The results showed that nesting sites of Apis cerana were found amongst 18 species of plants belonging to 15 families (12 species in lowlands and seven species in highlands). Most of the nests were placed on Cocos nucifera (coconut) trees in lowland sites, and on Erythria variegata (dadap) in highland sites. Nests were also found to be located mostly in the cavities of trees with diameter 21-60 cm. Nest entrances were located at 228.31 cm above ground surface (ags) in highland and at 116.04 cm ags in lowlands. The nest entrances in highlands measured 12.21 by 3.73 cm (height and width), and in the lowlands 14.93 by 7.36 cm. The percentage of tree cavities used for nesting was statically higher in lowland (40.73%) compared to high land (17.86%), but it fluctuated very slightly in both high or lowland areas during observation. The percentage of trees with nests decreased in December and January but increased in February, with the same patterns found in both high and lowlands. Our research suggests that higher tree diversity in polyculture plantations promotes increased use by honeybees for nesting. Thus, the more tree diversity in polyculture plantations the better it could conserve natural honey bees populations.

The Malesian stingless bee, Trigona (Trigonella) moorei Schwarz, is obligatorily myrmecophilous. All 67 nests collected in the Province of Sumatera Barat, Indonesia, were found within active arboreal carton nests of Crematogaster ants. Nest architecture is characterized by a slender, sticky entrance tube; brood cells arranged as separate, U-shaped horizontal combs; queen cells that often form a cluster isolated from combs; and a brood area encircled with pillars or thin single-layered involucrum. From three observations of incipient nests and comparison with previous records, the process of nest founding is presumed to be as follows: deposition of resin on vegetation near the target ant nest and preparation of entrance initiation on the ant nest surface; preparation of a sticky entrance tube on the ant nest and its extension into the ant nest as an inner tunnel; preparation of an ant-free area in the ant nest and a primordial nest cavity wall, covered by resin; further extension of the nest cavity by continuous replacement of the cavity wall, even after the end of swarming and start of queen oviposition; and thickening of the cavity wall after the nest cavity has reached full size.

Colony multiplication of the Sumatran stingless bee Trigona (Tetragonula) laeviceps was observed from October 1980 to May 1982. Mass flights of several dozen males or of about 1000 workers were observed several times around nests whose workers had started scouting for new nest sites. Transport of building materials to a new daughter nest continued for about 20 days, but the entrance tube was not completed until arrival of a virgin queen. Mass flight of workers and males around the daughter nest continued for about 3 hours. Most workers of the mother colony participated in this mass flight and were observed to enter the daughter nest, following the virgin queen. After an overnight stay about half of them returned to the mother nest. The proportion of workers remaining in the daughter colony was about 30 percent when the daughter colony became virtually independent of the mother colony (about one week after swarming). Males' mass flight continued around the daughter nest for 2 days after swarming. The young queen was tightly surrounded by workers and made repeated buccal contacts with them for about 5 days after swarming. Oviposition also started one week later. The mother colony could produce another daughter colony about one month later. The most remarkable results are return to the mother nest of many workers which went to the daughter nest and the negligibly small amounts of building materials and food carried into the daughter nest, compared with the stocks in the mother nest. These points were compared with other species to clarify characteristics of the reproductive strategy of T. laeviceps.

Colony multiplication of the Sumatran stingless bee Trigona (Tetragonula) laeviceps was observed from October 1980 to May 1982. Mass flights of several dozen males or of about 1000 workers were observed several times around nests whose workers had started scouting for new nest sites. Transport of building materials to a new daughter nest continued for about 20 days, but the entrance tube was not completed until arrival of a virgin queen. Mass flight of workers and males around the daughter nest continued for about 3 hours. Most workers of the mother colony participated in this mass flight and were observed to enter the daughter nest, following the virgin queen. The mother colony could produce another daughter colony about one month later. The most remarkable results are return to the mother nest of many workers which went to the daughter nest and the negligibly small amounts of building materials and food carried into the daughter nest, compared with the stocks in the mother nest. These points were compared with other species to clarify characteristics of the reproductive strategy of T. laeviceps .